Dam Square and Dam Palace lie in the heart of Amsterdam, at the original location of the dam in the Amstel River. It is a large, bustling square where people gather, and there are numerous shops and cafes that line the square. There is also a National Monument an important memorial to World War II. Dam Palace, Dam Square, Dam pictures and YES, my husband had to make some dam jokes!

Dam Square is like the Times Square of Amsterdam, minus all the crappy traffic and people. It's a gorgeous, wide open area with several popular places such as Royal Palace, Madame Tussauds, and Bijenkorf. There are many shops and places to eat/drink. There is also easy access to a lot of the major trams that spreads throughout the city. This is a great place to walk in the middle of and just take it all in. The people, the birds, and sometimes performances (even soccer games!) are just brings a great vibe and gives you that "I'm Here" feeling.

Always busy, always crowded, but iconic nonetheless. The facade of the Royal Palace is impressive as well as the grand dame of Amsterdam hotels, Grand Hotel Krasnopolsky, facing the National Monument, which is not exactly a masterpiece. My favorite corner in Dam Square is the beautiful austere 15th-century Gothic revival masterpiece, the Nieuwe Kerk, which is one of the oldest churches in Amsterdam.

In the XIII century, there was no square here, but there was an empty place where freshly caught fish were sold. Around 1270, local fishermen built a dam and a lock on the Amstel, and a fishing village of a dozen houses was named Amsteledamme. Now it is the symbolic center of Amsterdam. The square has two dominants facing each other - the Royal Palace and the national monument in honor of those killed in World War II. Despite the name, King Willem-Alexander does not live here, his residence is in The Hague. However, official events with his participation may take place here. But the weddings of the monarchs take place in the neighboring building- the Nieuwe Kerk, facing the square from the side. On the opposite side, where the national monument is located, there is a large department store De Bijenkorf, the Madame Tussaud Museum, the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky and Hotel Twenty Seven. All these buildings were built at different times in different styles, but strangely enough, such eclecticism doesn`t spoil the Dam Square...

There is an ambience about the space as people hustle and bustle by. The Riyal Palace is being cleaned and looks underwhelming which takes something from the square. There are shops and restaurants dotted around but it lacked any real wow factor.

We have been in a hotel directly a the Dam Place. From here you can walk in all directions and all streets will ending finally at the Dam. ( like all streets leading to Rome ) The Dam has the royal palace, the war monument, shops, coffees and at the other side the red light district. Always a lot of people there.

A very busy but central square on the Damrak. You’ll find the Royal Palace, NienweKerk and National Monument here and all are architecturally impressive. Madame Tussaud’s is also here along with numerous shops and restaurants, hence the busy nature. Well worth a visit!

Nice open space near the Royal Palace. Always crowds and always some forms of entertainment going on. The historic significance of the square is really not fully evident unless you tour the adjacent sites and hear about their relationship to the square.

One of the centers of the city and you will surely pass through here. Several important buildings are here and you are in the middle of all the shopping. But this is also the middle of all the tourism, so be prepared for wandering crowds. Some construction going on during our visit, making it a bit of chaos.

Square itself was reasonably quite but surrounding street were particularly busy. Nothing special but surrounded by historic buildings, would probably have been more interesting for us if we'd been part of a tour. Felt the square was let down by having two burger vans plying their trade at opposite corners of the square.